Neill Watson wrote:
Hi Neill,
I've had an LPG conversion on my 80 series for about 3 years now. I
initially wanted an auto cruiser and I know that they stopped importing
the auto diesel quite a few years before and didn't want to buy an "M"
reg car at the time. I bought the petrol with the intention of
converting it to LPG and did so about a year after getting it. My tanks
are located where the spare wheel normally sits so I had to wait to get
a spare carrier first. (Kaymar unit as it meant I didn't need to drill
any holes in the rear wings - and bought direct interestingly enough -
cheaper than buying from the European distributor!)
I have two tanks located directly behind the rear axle going across the
vehicle. The first don't come any lower than the axle casing and the
second, mounted to the rear of the first, is smaller to keep a semblance
of departure angle. The conversion specialist mounted the two tanks into
a steel frame which was then plated with checkerplate underneath to
protect them further. In total they give 120 litres which as Peter said,
will realistically drop. If I fill them after having run them dry I can
get around 85 litres in.
The system installed was the air/LPG mix and cost around ?1800 for all
the tanks, fittings etc. At the time I was offered the direct injection
system which would have cost another ?900 and I couldn't afford. In
hindsight I wish I had gone down that road as the power output of the
vehicle between petrol and LPG is noticeable.
I still have the petrol tank fitted and do run a tank through every so
often, although the vehicle starts on petrol to clean the injectors it
switches over as the revs drop the first time (if you want to run on LPG
of course). Like Peter I also get the same problem with running on
petrol. The vehicle runs fine on LPG but if I switch over it sounds and
feels rough, particularly at idle. I've never fully investigated because
I suspect it may be something to do with the lambda sensor and the way
in which that affects the "brains" control over the injection system.
Toyota don't recommend running the vehicle on LPG so maybe that has
something to do with it. If I do run a complete tank through the system
and have a balance of driving conditions the system does settle down
about half way through my pocket the tank.
Problems:
The LPG that we get here in the UK has been cast-off from the Dutch (or
so I'm led to believe). I have towed a caravan through France and as
soon as you fill up with French LPG, or Belgian, or Dutch, the vehicle
runs better and has more power. Apparently they add something to the gas
that takes the calorific value up. I can drive solo back in England and
get back up a reasonably long dual-carriageway hill with an awful lot
more ease - and speed - when I've got French gas on board 9Probably
something to do with the garlic!)
I'm not an expert, but the "bit" that mixes the LPG with the air is
located on my vehicle just behind the radiator header tank on the left.
I have wanted to fit a second battery tray to the vehicle and the
location of this particular part makes it nigh on impossible.
Apart from the two other problems above I would probably go with Peter
and say that I would go for a diesel next time. The problem is that I
still want an auto box so the only other solution is a 100 series - and
I just can't bring myself to think of taking it down thin green lanes so
I'll stick with the LPG. Adding Black Widow drawers to the rear of the
vehicle has increased the weight that gets carried around somewhat so
maybe I should just get used to the fact that it will never be as fast
as with petrol. on the other hand I need to get a tuning specialist to
have a look and see what they can find - the trouble is that he needs to
have knowledge of both petrol and LPG systems and will probably have to
find a compromise.
If you are worried about ground clearance then you can always raise the
vehicle. I used an Australian make that was fitted by a garage further
north than Kent and have had no problems but I'd rather not open that
can of worms again.
David
1998 80 series auto, 1FZ-FE, 50mm OME lift, LPG.
